It happens to all of us, especially when we’re busy, rushing around and trying to do six things at once. All of a sudden you look down at your fuel gauge and realize oh no–you’re dangerously low on gas. The pressure begins to become stressful when you glance down at that big “E” is looking back at you. It’s telling you hey–fill your tank every in awhile or risk being stranded on the side of the road.
So, here are some helpful tips from all of us from Painters Collision Centers about how to squeeze more miles out of your gas tank when you’re as low as you should go:
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Stop Driving Aggressively…Please
You waste a lot of fuel when you’re continually slowing down and then speeding up again to re- gain your momentum. Your gas consumption spikes when you exceed the speed limit and changing speeds doesn’t help either. If you know you have a habit of being a lead foot (and we see it often here in Arizona) be conscious of it especially when you’re low of fuel. Keeping your foot secure and in one place keeps the gas flowing minimally.
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Stop Tailgating Now!
Braking unnecessarily is a big no-no when you’re in danger of running out of gas and tailgating often results in sudden and unneeded braking. If you’re tailgater, then you already know that when the driver in front of you brakes hard, you are forced to do the same. When he then speeds up, you instinctively do the same, which is a common mistake and a great way to burn fuel big-time. In simple terms, full tank or not, tailgating is annoying and dangerous! Most people who tailgate aren’t really in a rush and chronic tailgaters endanger all of us, not to mention the fuel that they waste.
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Stop Idling For a Minute or Two
If you’re stopped in traffic with no exit plan, just turn your car off–it’s not a sin! It might not sound correct, but if your car is allowed to idle for more than 90 seconds, you’re losing more fuel than you can imagine. So, check it down and wait for traffic to unjam before re-starting your vehicle. Always keep in mind that your mission at this point is to conserve fuel in any way you can until you get to the nearest gas station.
About Painters Collision Centers
Today’s vehicles are essentially large computers on wheels, so you need a collision repair company with the right tools, equipment, and training to diagnose and fix these sophisticated machines at a high level. At Painters Collision Centers, with two locations in Chandler and Queen Creek, AZ, we stress quality, transparency, and complete accountability. People praise us for being thorough and providing over-the-top customer service on every repair. When you hire us at Painters Collision Centers, you tap into our 35 years of cumulative experience in the collision repair industry. Owners Jim and Kelly Huard aren’t just in it to win it. They’re in it to be the best!
Sources: NHTSA, AARP and AOL